Pillow for use with wheelchair

ABSTRACT

The pillow for use with a wheelchair provides a cushioned support for a wheelchair-bound user. The pillow for use with a wheelchair includes a cushion having opposed front and rear surfaces, with the rear surface being adapted for positioning on a support surface, such as the seat of the wheelchair. At least one strap having opposed first and second ends and a central portion is further provided, with the central portion being attached to the rear surface of the cushion. The first and second ends are free and extend from laterally opposed sides of the cushion. A releasable and adjustable fastener is provided for releasably securing the first end of the at least one strap to the respective second end thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pillows and cushions, and particularlyto a pillow for use with a wheelchair that provides a cushioned support.

2. Description of the Related Art

Users of wheelchairs are susceptible to dermatological problems, such aspressure sores and the like. Skin which is subjected to high pressure,high temperatures, moisture build up, and shear over prolonged periodsof time is susceptible to tissue stress and breakdown that can cause theformation of pressure sores. There is evidence that the presence ofconstant pressure on tissue combined with increasing temperaturegenerates a proportional increase in pressure sore formation. It hasbeen shown that increases in the moisture level generally follow risesin skin temperature, and that moisture is also a significant influencein the formation of pressure sores. Thus, cushions and pillows are oftenused in conjunction with wheelchairs in order to reduce skin temperatureand moisture accumulation in the seating environment.

Stability of the wheelchair cushion is an important factor for theuser's health and comfort. Stability, in this sense, generally refers tothe ability of a cushion to maintain the cushion user in the sameposition as when the user was seated or, at least, to reduce movement ofthe user from the cushion (or reduce movement of the cushion withrespect to the user). Many currently available cushions allow the userto slide, shift, or to rock from side to side during use of thewheelchair. Typically, providing stability in the user's pelvic areawill improve stability throughout the lower portion of the user's body.Therefore, a cushion designed to improve the stability of the user, andto reduce the possibility of shifting of the cushion, within thewheelchair would be desirable.

Thus, a pillow for use with a wheelchair solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pillow for use with a wheelchair provides a cushioned support for awheelchair-bound user. The pillow includes a cushion having opposedfront and rear surfaces, with the rear surface being adapted forpositioning on a support surface, such as the seat of the wheelchair.The cushion includes an outer cover, which receives a filler material,such as densified batting, therein.

At least one strap having opposed first and second ends and a centralportion is further provided, with the central portion thereof beingsecured to the rear surface of the cushion. The first and second endsare free and extend from laterally opposed sides of the cushion.Preferably, a pair of straps are provided, with the pair of straps beingpositioned substantially parallel with respect to one another. The pairof straps are spaced apart, each with respect to the other, and each ispreferably formed from an elastic material.

A releasable and adjustable fastener is provided for releasably securingthe first end of each strap to the respective second end thereof. Inuse, the cushion is placed on the seat of the wheelchair with the rearsurface of the cushion contacting the seat. The front surface thereof isadapted for supporting the user of the wheelchair. The first end of eachstrap is secured to the respective second end thereof, with each strapcovering a portion of the user's body to secure the cushion to the user.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a pillow for use with awheelchair according to the present invention, shown in use as a seatcushion.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the pillow for use with awheelchair according to the present invention, partially broken away toshow details thereof.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the pillow for use with awheelchair according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an environmental, perspective view of the pillow for use witha wheelchair according to the present invention, with the pillow beingshown attached to the user's lower legs.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The pillow for use with a wheelchair is designated generally as 10 inthe drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the pillow 10 provides a cushionedsupport for a wheelchair-bound user. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, thepillow 10 includes a cushion 12 having opposed front and rear surfaces24, 25, respectively, with the rear surface 25 being adapted forpositioning on a support surface, such as the seat S of exemplarywheelchair W. The cushion 12 includes an outer cover, formed from thejoining of front and rear panels 24, 25, which receives a fillermaterial 26, such as densified batting, therein. One such exemplarybatting material is manufactured under the mark Poly-Fil® NU-Foam®. Theouter cover is preferably formed from an absorbent and comfortablefabric.

At least one strap 14 having opposed first and second ends 16, 18,respectively, and a central portion 17 is further provided, with thecentral portion 17 thereof being secured to the rear surface 25 of thecushion 12 by stitching 28 or the like. The first and second ends 16, 18are free and extend from laterally opposed sides of the cushion 12.Preferably, a pair of straps 14 are provided, with the pair of straps 14being positioned substantially parallel with respect to one another, asbest shown in FIG. 3. The pair of straps 14 are spaced apart, each withrespect to the other, and each is preferably formed from an elasticmaterial.

A releasable and adjustable fastener is provided for releasably securingthe first end 16 of each strap 14 to the respective second end 18thereof. Any suitable releasable and adjustable fastener may be used,such as hook and loop fasteners 20, 22. In use, the cushion 12 is placedon the seat S of the wheelchair W with the rear surface 25 of thecushion 12 contacting the seat S. The front surface 24 thereof isadapted for supporting the user of the wheelchair W. The first end 16 ofeach strap 14 is secured to the respective second end 18 thereof, witheach strap 14 covering a portion of the user's body to secure thecushion 12 to the user.

In FIG. 1, the cushion 12 is shown positioned on seat S to support theuser's buttocks and thighs. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, thecushion 12 may be strapped to the user's lower legs. It should beunderstood that the cushion may be releasably strapped to any suitableportion of the user's body and, further, may be used in conjunction withany support surface, rather than the exemplary wheelchair W shown in theFigures.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A pillow for use with a wheelchair, comprising: a cushion havingopposed front and rear surfaces, the rear surface being adapted forpositioning on a support surface; at least one strap having opposedfirst and second ends and a central portion, the central portion beingsecured to the rear surface of the cushion, the first and second endsbeing free and extending from laterally opposed sides of the cushion;and means for releasably and adjustably fastening the first end of theat least one strap to the second end, the cushion being adapted forbeing strapped to a wheelchair-bound user's body.
 2. The pillow for usewith a wheelchair as recited in claim 1, wherein said means forreleasably and adjustably securing the first end of said at least onestrap to the second end thereof comprises mating hook and loop fastenersattached to opposite ends of said strap.
 3. The pillow for use with awheelchair as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one strapcomprises a pair of straps secured to the rear surface of said cushion.4. The pillow for use with a wheelchair as recited in claim 3, whereinsaid pair of straps are positioned substantially parallel with respectto one another and are spaced apart.
 5. The pillow for use with awheelchair as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushion comprises: anouter cover; and filling material disposed within an open interiorregion defined by the outer cover.
 6. The pillow for use with awheelchair as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one strap iselastic.